Barkley says he once played tipsy while with the Sixers

Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images for American Expres

Charles Barkley, who at one point thought he was going to be traded from the Sixers to the Lakers, says he plays a game for Philadelphia while tipsy.

Charles Barkley, who at one point thought he was going to be traded from the Sixers to the Lakers, says he plays a game for Philadelphia while tipsy. (Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images for American Expres)

Tom MahonOf The Philadelphia Daily news (TNS)

Barkley says he once played for Sixers while tipsy

ONCE UPON a time - January 1992 to be exact - there were rumors the Sixers were about to trade Charles Barkley to the Lakers for James Worthy and Elden Campbell.

It never happened, but just the thought of it was enough to drive Barkley to drink.

"I get a call from my agent one morning and he said, 'Philly has traded you to the Lakers,' " Barkley told Sports Illustrated. "So I went to lunch and started drinking. I'm bleeping so excited that I am going to the Lakers.

"Three hours later I get a bleeping phone call from my agent saying that the Sixers backed out of the deal. I said, 'Oh crap, I'm feeling pretty good right now.' So I went out and played that night."

Foxsports.com did a little detective work and surmised the game in question was against the Cavaliers on Jan. 11, 1992.

If so, hitting the sauce didn't seem to hurt Sir Charles' game. He had 23 points and nine rebounds in a 108-102 loss.